Proper and adequate rest is essential for our health. Specifically, regarding sleep, one of the most frequently asked questions is which side of the body is best for resting at night: the right or the left.
You may not have given much thought to your sleeping position, but the way you spend your night can have an impact on your overall health. Each position has its advantages and disadvantages, which you may want to consider the next time you go to bed.
For example, sleeping on your back with a pillow under your back may help with back pain, but it can also worsen sleep apnea symptoms. Sleeping on your side may be better for sleep apnea, but it may cause spinal pain.
There’s still some controversy about whether sleeping on your left or right side is better for your heart. Some sleep experts believe that sleeping on your right side could compress the vena cava. This is the vein that feeds the right side of your heart.
A 2018 study found that most participants with a heart muscle disease called dilated cardiomyopathy preferred to sleep on their right side rather than their left.
Some doctors recommend that pregnant women sleep on their left side. Because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on your left side helps keep your uterus away from that large organ, and it also makes your heart’s job easier because it prevents the weight of the fetus from putting pressure on the large vein (called the inferior vena cava) that carries blood to the heart from your feet and legs, improving blood flow to the fetus.
The left side, the most suitable for sleeping
According to science, the left side is the most beneficial position for sleeping. According to a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience, this position is beneficial for the brain and prevents, among other things, reflux problems.
